Wrapping machine



Sept. 1, 1925.

- 1,551,985 J. FAULL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2.7 1922 z'sneets-sneez1 V I I wNTO/Y 4 TTORNEYS Sept. 1, 1925.

J. IFALJLL WRAPPING MACHINE v f ned Dec. 2. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2'"H'IIIIIII limuusmmiaw [NVENTOR M ATTORNEYS v the folding mechanismbyffollowers o'n'the' and sealed about the cartomfwhichfsecures I thewrapper thereon, feeding meehanismas passes the foldmg devices, with theresult that actionofthe Patented Sept. 1, 1925.

SEALER 00., um, or na'r rnnicnnnx,

LIMITED o1 'MIQH IGAN y a Application fl 1d .Iiecember {'2} 11922.: seral no. eagues." 7

To all who met may coo zcer'n f Be it known that LJ 0111 FAUI JIi,citizen of the United States and resident of Battle Creek, Michigan,have 'invented 'newand useful Improvements" in Wrapping Machines, whichinvention is set forth the following specification.

" The present lnvention is an improvement;

in wrapping machines, and articularly mac'h1nes n which cartons orot erarticles,

like bread, are wrapped in waxed paper or other wrappers. v i

the cartons have been fed past elements of the clamp, s'eparated tier;-lthe Heretofore main conveyor chain; and it frequentlyhappened that,particularly with light cartons,

the same would become slightly displaced whereupon the folding mechanismwould the -folding properly engage the wrap suit that the rear flap "woud frequently not be folded against the, package at all midtfre-v (fuently the. flap would be inaccurately olded, dependent upon thedeg'reeof displacement of the package.

The-(object of the present nvention is to provide a feedingmechanismpositively con trolling the cartoufrom the tim'eit enga es thewrapper until the latter has'b'eeil lfol' ed a uniform and excellentsealing of the'carton in the waxed pa er or'other wraper;- which is.self adjusta 1e to enga'g'e'an -pre vent damage to cartons varying insize or shape; which eliminates all vdanger of dis placing the cartonwith. its atten'dant' de' fectivesealing; and all Without anyfsacrii'fice ofthe speed of output and by the pro vision of a simple andeflicient mechanism.

By the present invention thecarton, with is fixedly held 'by the foldingmechanism on thewrapper cannot displace or change the POSltiOIl Of thecar} ton with respect to the feeding mechanism.

A uniform and efiicient wr'a'pping is thus efl extending fected at highspeed;

not act effectively and the carton would not the case; when wrappingsmall cartons; as 1t was found that the tucker of .mechanism wouldengage the v wrapper with sufiicient forceto displace the carton sothatthe folder member would no't er, with the re--" ncnmhn, a-ramunnsnmneso'ciamimn The inventionre ferenceto the accompanying E draw ng'sillustrat ng oneexpression of the-ji i v'e ideafahdwherein- Fig. 1 is alongitudinal elevation; partly "in'section, showing one end of thexca-r'ton conveyor-{and associated mechanism; r F g.2 is a'deta'ilperspective showing of the followers provided-With thecl'amprofrthepresent-invention; a Fig, '3- 1s "a transverse elevation, partly insection,- showing thecarto'n inieed'yand;

Fig, 4 is" a detail perspective {showings-the purpose of'clearillustration 1 5 "wherein like -'Referring to. the dra rigs, referencenumerals indicate-likewparts, '5

1 indicates any suitable table or siipport along which the carton :or-li-ke -a"rtic'le is progressed past a "suitable wrapper foldingmechanism or. other 1 instrumentality for vLop'jerating Jon the movingcarton oratrticle'l 1 {The folding mechanism herein illustratedcomprises; rlon each side of the table" or "support fan zu piper tuckerfinger '6 and a filower tucker "e'rv 7,an upper folder fin er Band=a-lower' fo ('1- er fin r 9. Such fol er mechanism is gpre'ferablyoffthewe'll-known typei sed in the Johnson wax-w'ra permacni-negaad;need-- not be specifically escribed' It is 'stjl fiiient tonote that the upper folding mechanism rotates in a-counterclockwi's'e'.*di rection around the s'haftlO and that thelo'weryfo lding mechanism rotates in ac" tio'n" around the shaft '11.Ilhe, folding mechanisms Me -driven three h shafts and 13 and bevelgearing '14 an rs'mmany suitable sourceof. power. 1 i.

- .A conveyorglti, preferably of the chain type, continuously past. thefolding mec am'sm; This-conveyor passes over suitably sup ortedsprockets '17 one-of which is'iinounte --on shaft is (gFi. 3) driventhrough suitable -means,'a"s *sha 19 and bevel gears 20 and-21. This-com"veyor has/mounted- -there'on a plurality of suitably spaced followers,each preferably c'onslsting :of Y a base portion "22,1; standard '23 anda follower-plate 24, these parts being suitably secured v together I andto the chain conveyor. I p f Each follower standard is rovided rw-i'tha'clamp 25 ivotally. mounted-on a pi'n 26 rough suitable apertures inlockw ise "direc- 1progresse's 'theear'tons v ears 27 formedon the frontface of a slide 28 having brackets 29' which embrace the followerstandard. The clamp is independently adjustable to engage cartonsvarying in sizeor shape, adjustment of the clamp being automaticallyeffected by the carton and suitable means here shown in the form of aspring 30carried by the pin 26,

same into. and out of engagement with the partially wrapped carton. Ashere shown,

a spring 31, one end of which is anchored to the follower and the otherend to extensions 31 formed on the slide, moves the slide and clamp awayfrom the carton engaging sition, andra pair of cam tracks 32 an 33,

slide by reason of the engagement of the Any suitable 4 tons intoposition to be engaged by the folsuitably mounted onthe frame of themachine, move. the slide and clamp into engagementwith the top and frontfaces respectively of the carton. A pair of rollers 34andl35 carried bypivot pin 26 engage the ca m rails 32 and 33 respectively. If desired,

vasingleroller and a single cam track ma be employed. The cam tracks areinclin 'FigwL-at 38.to force the clamp and slide downwardly, and at 39to permit the springv 3l-ito""ele vate the slide andclamp. Prefer-,ably, a cam 40 is associated withthe incline '39 so that-the elevatingof the clamp and roller 34 with said cam 40 is rendered more positive. 1

means formoving the carlowers may beemployed; preferably the usualinfeed belt 41 and elevator 42 are used, the wax-wrapper being fed intoposition over the elevator and the wrapper being folded under the cartonin the usual .manner and by the well-known mechanism. The followermovesthe carton, with the I wrapper around it,.from the. elevator 42 andmg one end 0 moves the partially wrapped carton forward against thefinger 43 pivoted at 44 and hava spring 45 secured thereto, the otherend of said spring being suitably 1 anchored.- The finger yields and thecarton -moves under it, the finger being forced-to the position shown indotted lines in Fig. 1.

- Thecam action is so timed that the slide and I clamp move downwardlytoward the carton the finger moves over the top thereof, so.

i that-just before the carton passes beyond control of the lingerv thecurved edge of the clamp slides over the front ed e of the carface ofthe same.

ton and the clamp securely grips the front Arms 31 of the slidepreferably engage the top of the carton,

providing additional clamping action of the positively controlled atevery stage of the operation, it is possible to materially simplify theconstruction of the machine by eliminating the guide rails 46 ifdesired. Further, the fixed finger 47 and the pivoted finger 43, whichreceive the carton from the elevator, may also be removed if desired.This, however, necessitates a positioning of the cam incline 38 slightlymore to the left as seen in Fig. 1.

The operation of the device is asfollows:

The cartons are carried by the infeed belt 41 from any suitable sourceof suppl to the elevator 42 which raises them into t e position shown atthe left of Fig. 1 between the fixed and yielding fingers, the carton atthe same time being enveloped by the wrapper in the usual manner. Atthis moment the follower moves the partially wrapped carton against theyielding finger 43, the cam inclines operating on the rollers 34 and 35v.to move the. slide and clamp downwardly toward the carton. Theclamping action is completed just before the carton passes beyondcontrol of the yielding finger 43 and the carton, withthe wrapper, isthen fixedly held as it is progressed past the folding mechanism and thehot plates (not shown). Thereafter, the. spring 31 and cam 40 disengagethe clamp from the carton, which latter passes on to the delivery belt.

When it is desiredto feed cartons-varying in size or shape past thefolding mechanism, the clamp automatically adjusts itself to the size orshape of the carton, thereby preventingapplication of excessive pressureon the carton with the attendant damage or mutilation thereof. The clampis therefore independently movable with respect to the slide andfollower and, when the clamp is moved into engagement with a cartonirregular in size or shape, automatic adjustment of the clamp iseffected by means of the carton and the yielding action of the spring30, the latter permitting the clamp to move in accordance with the sizeor shape of the carton while at the same. time exerting suflicientpressure to hold the carton with the wrapper securely against thefollower.

As a further means for adapting the mechanism above described toaccommodate cartons ofvarious sizes, the .cam' tracks 32 and 33 areattached to the frame of the ma.-

chine so that the same may be adjusted vertically, the adjustment of thecam tracks being effected by means of bolts 16 which extend throughelongated slots 47 in the upper ends of brackets 48 preferably formedintegral with the cam tracks. .It Will thus appear that the cam tracksmay be adjusted to any desired height, in accordance with the size ofthe cartons and that suchadjustment will determine the extent ofvertical movement of thel slide 28 and clamp 25 to insure properengagement of the latter with the carton.

Indeed, the invention, while solving an important and diflicult' roblemin wrapping machines, is not, in lts broadest aspect, limited towrapping machines but isequally applicable to any machine in which itis' desired to'securegly same time fee ing it past aninstrumenta-lityfor operating thereon.

-.While one expression of the inventive idea has been heretoforedescribed and illustrated in detail, it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited thereto,

and that the inventive idea may beembodied in various mechanicalexpressions within .the limits of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. In a machine of the charaiiterdescribed," thecombination of folding mechanism,

means for feeding cartons past said folding mechanism including afollower engaging on said' slide and automaticallyengaging another faceof the carton before the operation of the folding mechanism and meansfor automatically disengaging said clamp,

after the operation of the,folding mechanism. i

2. In a machine of the character, described, the combination of foldingmechanism, means for feeding cartons ast said folding mechanismincluding a ollower enga ing one face of the carton, a slide movab e lonitudinally with respect to the follower,

a c amp pivoted to said slide, means for automatically engaging saidclamp with another face of the carton before the oper-- ation of thefolding mechanism, and means for automatically disengaging said clampafter the operation of the folding mechanism.

3. In a'machine of the character described, the combination of foldingmechanism, means for feeding cartons past said folding mechanismincluding a follower engaging one face of the carton, a clamp slidablyand pivotally mounted on said follower,

means automatically shifting the pivotal point of said clamp and causingthe same to engage another face of the carton before the operation ofthe folding mechanism, and means for automatically disengaging hold anobject while atthe 'mean'sfor automatically movingsaid slide and clampwhereby the latter iscaused to engage" another faceof *said'carto'nprior-to gaging said" clamp from the' 'carton" after operation thereon;"by the folding/mechanism.

, operation thereon by the foldingmecha- "nism, {and means forautomatically *d'isen- 5. In'a machine of the' character described,'-

the combination of folding" mechanism,

means' for feedingcartons past said folding mechanism including afollower enga .f'ing. one face of the carton, a slide, meansautomatically moving said slide toward the carton prior'to'operatio'nf'thereon bythe folding mechanism, means Cai'lll-ILd by' theslide 'yieldingly engaging another face of the carton during operationthereonyb'y the cally moving said slide away 'f'ron'i' the carton afteroperation of the folding mecha- 6., In a machine of the characterdescribed, the combinationofa conveyor, a follower "thereon to engage:one face of the carton, ffoldm 'mechani'sm past whichthe .fcartons arefe by said conveyor, a-slide' carried by the follower and provided 3with a' yielding clamp, means automatically moving saidi. slide toward"the outer" end-- "of" the follower to c'au seengagement of the clampwith another face of the carton prior to operation of thefolding'mech'anism, and means automaticall moving said slide toward theinner end of tlie follower to disengage said clamp from the carton afteroperation of the foldme'chanism thereon. In a machine ofthe characterdescribed, the combination of a conve 'or, afollower thereon to engagethe rear ace of the oarton to be wrapped, a'member carried by thefollower and movable longitudinally thereon, a clamp ivoted on saidmember,

means automatica ly- 'mo'ving said memberand clamp into engagementwith'the top and front faces of the carton prior to operation of thefolding mechanism, and means automatically disengaging said member andclamp from the carton after operation of the v folding mechanism.

8. In a machine of the character described, I

the combination of folding mechanism, means for feeding cartons pastsaid folding mechanism including a follower engaging the rear face ofthe carbon to be wrapp and automatically operable means enga ing the topand front faces of'the carton tofiol foldingmechanism, and meansautomati the same securely against the follower as the carton is fedpast the folding mechanism, said means comprising a member carried bythe follower and movable longitudinally thereon and a clamp pivoted toone side of QSaid memberl. t V

p :9. 111 a machine of the character described,

,ffoldi'ng mechanism, means for feeding cartons past 'saidmechanismincluding-"a follower engaging one face of the carton, amember havingtranslatory movement with respect tosaid follower and provided with a;carton-engaging clamp, automatically adjustabler to the size of'thecarton, means moving saidmember. and clamp in one do j rec tioni tocause; engagement of the latter 1 witll another' face of the cartonprior to op me'ans.. m v1 20.-

eration of-i the folding mechanism,' and tliegoppqsiteldiiection todisengage the latter r 10. In a machine of the cliaraeter degscribedrfolding mechanism, means for feed.- an-gcartons. past saidmechanism including a-gfollower. engagingone face of the carton,

automatically operable means engaging the carton before the same reachesthelfold- .ng. eO anism and dis ngaging he carton after {the samehas'passed said mechanism, said, means-[comprising a, spring-actuatedclamp slidably andfpivotally mountedon said follower, and means, forimparting the follower,

111 ,In combination, wrapper folding translatory movement; to said clampalongmechanism, means, forfeeding cartons with wrappers thereon to said"mechanism including a follower engaging the envelopedcarton, and meanspreventing relative displacement of the carton and wrapper comprising amember having translatory movement with respect. to said followerand' aclamp pivoted to said member and operating on movement" of the lattertoengage and securely hold the enveloped carton against said follower.

172 In combination, wraper folding mechanism, means for feeding articleswith wrappers thereon past said folding mechanism including a followerengaging the article .said member and clamp 'in' nism including'afollower engaging the arblClB'Wlllll thewrapper, a member slldablymounted on the follower, a spring-actuated clamp pivotally mounted onsaid member for engaging the enveloped article before the same reachessaid mechanism and disengagingsaid article after the same has passed'said mechanism, the spring of said clamp adjustingthe same to preventapplication of 'excesive pressure on the article by the clamp.

14'. In combination, a, conveyor, a flight or follower carried thereby,a member slidably mounted on said follower, a clamp pivoted to saidmember, means controlling movement of said member and clamp toward andaway from" the conveyor, and means control1ing-movement of saidclamptoward.

and away from said follower.

15.. In a machine of the character described, the combination offoldingmechanism, means for feeding cartons past said folding mechanismincluding a follower adapted to engage one faceof the carton, a

slide movable longitudinally with respect to said follower, a clamppivoted to said 'sl'ide, and means for automatically engagingsaid clampwith another face of the carton before the operation of the foldingmechanism and for disengaging the clamp after the operation of saidmechanism, said means being adpistable where-by the extent of movementof said clamp may be varied to accommodate cartons of different sizes.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification JOI-IN FAULL.

